Summary

“The Archies” is an uplifting musical with great dance numbers and a refreshing twist on the classic comic strip. It seamlessly transports the world of Riverdale to India without sacrificing substance. The film balances teenage drama and a larger community issue, creating an entertaining and educational story. While the film could have been shorter, the immaculate dance numbers and vibrant performances make it a joy to watch.

Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies is an uplifting musical with great dance numbers and an even better twist on the classic comic strip. This take on Archie offers new concepts and a lot of perspective on the source material. The film opens on an animated retelling of British rule in India in conjunction with the creation of Riverdale. Recent efforts by The CW and Netflix have shown that the world of Archie has a lot to offer, but The Archies takes it up a notch, especially doing a good job of adapting without pandering. The tone can occasionally be a bit muddled, but The Archies is a refreshing take on a classic story.

Archie (Agastya Nanda), Veronica (Suhana Khan), and Betty (Khushi Kapoor) all live in the small town of Riverdale. The community was formed during the British occupation and, as a result, the residents are largely mixed race. With both British and Indian heritage, Riverdale has finally found its footing and is thriving. Archie, Veronica and Betty are all friends, but a love triangle is forming with Archie at the center. While they deal with their teenage drama, a much bigger problem is arising. Veronica’s dad has plans to interrupt the sanctity of Riverdale with a massive tourist attraction that threatens the heart of the community. No one wants what his business will bring, but they might not have a say in the end. Archie must learn what it means to be political while Veronica reckons with her dad’s business decisions.

The dance numbers are immaculate and, though the music does not always hit the mark, it is still an absolute joy to watch.

Though the film is definitely too long, it spends some of that time integrating history with poignant fiction to depict an India we have not seen before. The production is sprawling with vibrant colors and gorgeous performances. In this iteration, kids can have fun against the backdrop of a serious moment in fictional history. While Riverdale was praised for its darker tone, The Archies distinguishes itself stylistically by being a musical. The Archies themselves are a band that Archie and Jughead (Mihir Ahuja) start; music is part of the town’s history.

The dance numbers are immaculate and, though the music does not always hit the mark, it is still an absolute joy to watch. But at over two hours, the cutting of one or two songs would have done the film a favor. The performances more than make up for it, and they’re all very exuberant. The acting style of most musicals is rather cheery and The Archies is no exception. The kids are almost always smiling, and the entire cast is stunning. Nods to the original comic can be found in the outfits of Kapoor and Khan and both actresses have great onscreen presence. The adult characters often have to play the wet blanket, but they never detract from the story. Betty’s parents dancing alone in the dining room, in particular, will make you want to grow old with your favorite person.

Ultimately, The Archies is an adaptation no one saw coming, but it works like a charm. The world of Riverdale is seamlessly transported to India without sacrificing any substance. The fact that the film is a musical might throw you off at first, but it will win you over in the end. You won’t find much in the way of epic cinematography or layered monologues, but that’s not what the film is trying to be. The Archies is entertaining, educational and original.

The Archies is now streaming on Netflix. The film is 141 minutes long and rated TV-14.